Rotary engine



Patented Dec. 26, 1922.

UNIT-ED .STA'IEhi PATENT vOFFICE.

IVIORRIS P. HOLMES, 0F CLAREMNT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR '1'0 SULLIVAN IVLACI'IINEITY COBPANY, A CORPORA'CLIOILW` OF MASSACHUSETTS.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Application filed April 18, 1918. Serial No. 229,381.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it lrnown that I, Monnrs I). HOLMES, a citizen or the United States, residing at Claremont, in the county of Sullivan and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Itotary Engines, vof which the following is a full, clear, and exact specilication.

My invention relates to rotary engines.

It has heretofore been proposed to regulate a rotary engine of the type utilizing a single set ot intermeshing yspiral toothed rotors by means-oi an adjustable throttle valve 'lisposed at one end oi` the rotors andv controllingthe supply off duid to the tooth at their point of contact. Ithas, further, been proposed to supply `fluid to a rotary engine of the type utilizing a plurality olf sets of spiral rotors by disposing between the adjacent ends of the elements of each rotor meshing spur gears, and supplying the Huid to the rotors at the point olf `mesh of the spur gears.

One object of'my invention is to provide an engine of the rotary type having` rotor controlled inlet port means and in which the period of admission is variable. A tur-- ther object of my invention is to provide an engine having rotors provided with interlneshing tooth. blades forming pockets which increase in volume as said rotors rotate and having means for varying the period of admission. A

My invention also has for its object to control the cut-oft' of a rotary engine of the type utilizing a plurality of sets oit inten meshing spiral. toothed rotors in anim" proved manner, whereby the cut-off of the several sets maybe regulated in an improved and simplified manner at the same time that the construction is balanced as desired. More specilically, my invention has for its object to provide yan improved and simplied construction of rotors and an improved and simplified construction of variable cutolf mechanism therefor and cooperating therewith whereby the fluid supply to either set of rotors may be regulated as desired simultaneously with the fluid supply to its fellow. These and other objects of my invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown for purposes of illustration one emkof mesh of the teeth of the rotors.

'away to facilitate illustration.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substan tially on line.2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 8-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. e is a sectional view taken substantially on line 1 -A: of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a detail, sectional view of the valve taken on line 5--5 oi" Fig. 2. y In this illustrative construction, it will be observed that I have disclosed a rotary engine oi the so called Van Deventer type described in the patent to Van Deventer No. 996,169. .as this type of motor is well known, it is believed that, a detailed description of the same is unnecessary other than to say that. it comprises a plurality of sets ol intermeshing spiral rotors 1, 2, 3, 4;, oi' which the rotors l and 3 are-carried upon a single axle 5, while the rotors 2 and t are carried upon a parallel aXle 6, the two sets ot axles being suitably iournaled in a casing 7 so that the rotors are enclosedthereby and the spiral teeth 8 on the rotors may intermesh.

'In my improved construction, it will be observed, however, that the two rotors on each axle, namely, l, 3 and 2, 4, are spaced apart longitudinally by a substantial interval, suitable bearings 9 herein being extended from the casing in between the `rotors so that two distinct sets of meshing rotors l, 2, and 3, 4l, are provided, in which the rotors land 2 cooperate and the rotors 3 and 4: cooperate, each as a distinct set and without the provision of any Iconnecting mechanism between the same other than .the spiral teeth 8.

It will also be observed that beneath the rotors andy inthe casing 7 I have provided a sui-table ,passage .l0 leading towards the middle of the interval between the rotors and communicating through a suitable port 1l 'with an upwardly extending bore or passage l2, preferably slightly wider vthan the port and extending upward, as shown in Fig. 2, to a point adjacent the line From this point, a reduced bore 1.2. extends upprovenienti, it will be observed that the inembers fi act eidiciently as spacing and bearing members betweenthe different sets ot rotors in conjunction with a single ball thrust bearing' 1T disposed between the rotors il and Ll, while the two shafts 5 and 6 are each suitably journaled in bearing members `1S and 19 carried on the casing. will also be observed that any suitable i.eversi-iie mechanism may be used in conjunction with the engine thus formed, such, ior instance. as the reversing mechanism described vand elaimed iii my copenifling application Serial No. 130,579, filed Nov. 10, 1916, and shown herein at 20, 21, but inasmuch as this meel anisin does not Yform the subject matter ot the present invention, a further description ot the same is believed to be unnecessary.

lhile I have in this application specilically described one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it is to be understood that'this torni of the saine i used for purposes ol`i illustration and tluit the invention may be modified and embodied iu various other Ltoiins without ileiiai'tinol from its'spirit or the scope ot the appended claims. y

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

of sets of intermeshing toothed rotors therein adapted to be actuated by the action of a pressure iluid on the teethy thereof, and a single means for varyingl the eut-oit of each set.

2. In a rotary engine, a casing, a plurality oi sets of intermeshinn' spiral toothed rotors 'therein adapted to be actuated. by the action or a pressure iluid on the teeth carried thereby', and a single means for varying the eut*- ofli ot eachset.

3. In a rotary engine, a casing, a plurality oi sets oic iiitei'ineshiugr'spiral toothed rotors therein adapted to be :ictuated by the action ot a pressure duid on the teeth ca fried there-- by, and siinultsi'ieously adjustable ineans tor va ying; the cutsoii" oi' both sets.

ll. In a rotary engine, a casing, a plurality oit sets of longitudinally spaced iutermesliing; rotors therein, and cut-oil controlling means disposed between said sets ot rotors.

5. In a rotary engine, a casing, a plurality ot sets oit longitudinally spaced interineshing rotors therein, and cut-off mechanism disposed between said sets ot rotors and in-` cluding; a single adjustable member.

6. In a rotary engine, a casing', a plurality of: sets of longitudinally spaced intermeshing,` rotors therein, and cut-olif mechanism disposed between said sets of rotors and includinei oppositely located ports and a single controlling` member therefor. y i

7. In a rotary engine, a casing, a plurality of sets of longitudnally spaced intermeshing rotors therein, and cutoff` mechanism disposed between said sets of rotorsI and including oppositely located ports and a single controllingmember therefor.

8. Ina rotary engine, a casina", cooperati- 'ing sets ot spiral-toothed rotors rotatable within said casing on parallel ares and spaced apart along said axes, fluid supply means for said rotors, and bearings for said rotors including" a thrust bearing l'ietween the rotors on one axis.

9. In a rotary engine, a pluialityV ot cooperating` sets of internieshmg; spiral toothed.

rotors disposed in spaced relation on parallel axes, a casing enclosing` th same and providing bearings therefor disposed between said sets, and cut-oil' mechanism disposed in the interval between their axes and between said bearings.

10. In a. rotary engine, a plurality of cooperating sets of intermeshing spiral toothed rotorsdisposed in spaced relation on parallel axes, a casing enclosing the same, bear yings for said rotors disposed between said sets olif' rotors and at their ends, and cutoff mechanism disposed in the interval between their axes including a supply passage having oppositely located ports disposed along the line oljmesh of the cooperating rotor teeth and a movable member for varying the area oi, said ports. y

11.In a rotary engine, a casing', a plurality of sets of. longitudinally spaced in termeshing rotors therein, and cut-olf mechanisn'i disposed between said sets of rotors and including` oppositely located ports and controlling means therefor for simultaneously controlling` the cut-oil of said ports while permitting flow through both oi` said ports at the saine time.

12. In rotary engine, a plurality of sets of cooperatingsets of spiral-toothed rotors, a fluid pre. sure supply passage, branch pas or conducting fluid pressure `troni tion of said branch passages with said sets ot rotors and adjustable to `vary the conimunication to change the cut-off of said engine.

13. In a rotary engine, the combination with a pair oi rotors each provided with a plurality or teeth: cooperating to form between successive teeth pockets expanding in size upon rotation ofthe rotors, of an inlet port adapted to communicate directly with said pockets at their inception and a cut olf mechanism adapted to vary the duration of the period of communication of each pocket with the fluid supply.

14. In a rotary engine, the combination with a pair of toothed rotors cooperating to form between their teeth pockets expanding in size upon rotation of the rotors, of a fluid inlet port communicatingl directly with the expansion pockets and having a bounding edge adjustable in a direction tangential to the pitch circle of the rotor teeth.

15; ln a rotary engine, the combination with a pair of toothed rotors cooperating to form bet-Ween their teeth pockets expanding in size upon rotation of' the'rotors, of a fluid inlet port overrun by the rotor teeth and provided with a bounding edge adjustable to vary tiineof cut off.

16. il rotary engine comprising a pair of rotors each provided with a plurality of s pirally disposed and interineshing tooth blades cooperatingy to form expansion pockets, and fluid inlet means comprising out off mechanism adapted to vary the duration of the period of communication of each expansion pocket with the fluid supply.

17. A rotary engine comprisingk a pair of rotors eachfprovided with 'teeth cooperating to 'form a plurality of spirally arranged eX- pansion pockets and intermeshing with each other,and inlet means comprising aout off mechanism whereby the duration of the. period of communication of each expansion `pocket with the fluid supply maybe varied.

18. rotary engine having a pair of rotors each provided with a plurality of spirally .disposed intermeshing tooth blades whichcooperate to form expansion pockets,

and fluid inlet means comprisingY an inlet port overrun by the rotor tooth blades: and having an adjustable bounding edge where- `by thetime of out 'off may be, varied.

119.r In a rotary engine, the combination with a casing having a pair of toothed: ro tors cooperating to form between successive teeth pockets expanding in size upon rotation of the rotors, of an inletport` opening into the interior of said casing at a point toL communicate with ,said expanding poele ets at their inception,` and means whereby one dimension of' said port maybe varied to change the period of the latters communication with each of 'said pockets.

20. In a rotary motor, a plurality of rotors, at least two elements associated with each of said rotors and serving as abutments formation of pockets expanding in volume as said rotoi'rotates, fluid supply means comprising a port over-run by said elements` and means for increasing or decreasing the length of said port in the` direction of rotation of said rotor. Y

22. In a rotary motor, a casing, a rotor v therein, a plurality of elements associated with said rotor and extending between` the body of said rotor and the wallet said casing, means constituting an abutment cooperating with said elements to-` eztl'fect the torina-tion of pockets expanding in volume as said rotor rotates, fluid supply. means comprising a port over-run by said elements, and means for varying the `ratio of the` length of said port tothe' distance between. y

adjacent elements of Said rotor.

23. In a rotary engine, a plurality of -rotors'providedupon their peripheries with intermeshing tooth blades cooperating upon rotation of said rotors tofform pockets eX- panding in size, fluid supply means comf prising a passage communicable with said poclretsadjacentthe points off their incep` tion, a valve movable in said passage and ofthe saine cross-sectional area as said passage, passage means lconnecting.the portions of said passage at opposite ofy said valve, means for adjusting said valve to vary the period of communication of said expand` ing pockets with the fluid pressure supply, and exhaust means for said engine.

In testimony e l l MORRIS l). HOLMES.

whereof I' afliX my signature. 

